Legendary singer and guitarist, Sir Victor Uwaifo is dead, according to the confirmation from a family member.
Sir Victor Uwaifo was born on March 1, 1941, in Benin City, and attended Western Boys High School in his hometown and later, St Gregory’s College, Lagos.
He subsequently proceeded to Yaba College of Technology, Lagos from where he obtained a National Art Diploma with distinction and shone as an outstanding athlete.
He received a B.A Hons, First Class, Fine and Applied Arts from the University of Benin and a Masters’ Degree in Sculpting from the same university.
He also obtained a Ph.D in Architectural Sculpture from the same university where he has been a Professor for several years.
He represented Nigeria at the Black Art Festival in Algiers in 1969 and at the African Commonwealth Festival, London in 1973.
Sir Victor Uwaifo played the guitar with dexterity and he is known for his dancing steps and recently celebrated his 80th birthday in March.
He served as Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism in Edo State of Nigeria between 2001 and 2003.
Uwaifo and his band had several national and international performance tours at Abidjan, Ghana, Europe, the United States of America, Japan and the former Soviet Union.
He was renowned for his hit tracks such as ‘Joromi’, ‘Mami Water’, ‘Guitar Boy’.
‘Joromi’ won him his First Gold Disc in Africa at 24, and was first released on the album titled Big Sound on June 27, 1969.